Municipal Elections

General Information

There are five (5) elected positions in the City of Encinitas one (1) Mayor elected at-large and four (4) City Council Members. Beginning with the General Municipal Election in November 2018, Council Members will be elected by-districts in four single-member districts. FOR INFORMATION REGARDING DISTRICT ELECTIONS - CLICK HERE

General Municipal Elections are conducted every even-numbered year and are consolidated with the State General Election held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November.

The next General Municipal Election will be held on November 6, 2018 for the purpose of electing one at-large Mayor and two Council Members - one from District 3 and one from District 4 .

To determine what election district an Encinitas address falls within, click here.

General Qualifications for Candidates

Age & Citizenship
A candidate must be 18 years of age and a citizen of the state (Government Code Section 1020).

By-District Election
On November 15, 2017 the City Council adopted Ordinance 2017-15 establishing a by-district election process with four single-member Council districts.

Residency

Mayor: Candidates for Mayor must be a resident and registered voter of the City of Encinitas.

Council Member: A candidate elected to represent a district must reside in that district and be a registered voter in that district. Any candidate for City Council must live in, and be a registered voter in, the district in which he or she seeks election at the time nomination papers are issued, pursuant to California Government Code Section 34882 and Elections Code Section 10227.

Termination of residency in a district by a Council Member shall create an immediate vacancy for that council district unless a substitute residence within the district is established within 30 days after the termination of residency.

Conviction of Crimes
A person is disqualified from holding any office upon conviction of designated crimes as specified in the Constitution and the laws of the State of California (Government Code Section 1021).

Campaign Sign Regulations

Ordinance No. 2016-03 was adopted on January 27, 2016 and went into effect on February 27, 2016. The Ordinance amends EMC Chapter 2.16 to remove time limits for signs displaying political or other noncommercial messages, whereby the display of such signs is permitted at all times. Please note the provisions allow for an unlimited number of signs at all times with the property owner’s permission but there are size limits for each individual sign.

Campaign Reporting Requirements for Candidates

Using the link above, become familiar with the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) website, candidate filing requirements included in Campaign Disclosure Manual, and filing deadlines. The FPPC will be conducting a candidate and treasurer seminar that will provide information on campaign reporting, and Political Reform Act's requirements and prohibitions. Forms may be obtained in hard copy from the City Clerk or electronically from the FPPC’s website (link above).

The City of Encinitas has local contribution limits as follows (Encinitas Municipal Code Chapter 2.16)

No contributor shall contribute more than $250 total to any candidate or their controlled committee, for any one election.

No contributor shall contribute more than $250 total, for any one election, to any committee, as defined in Section 2.16.010B, formed to support or oppose a candidate.

The above limits shall not apply to candidates' contributions of his/her personal funds to his/her own campaign account.

Campaign Statements Filed with the City Clerk's Office

Voter Registration Information

Residents may register to vote at any time. If a qualified voter is not registered to vote and wants to vote in a particular election, the qualified voter must register at least 15 days before that election.

Voter registration requirements: U.S. Citizen and 18 years of age on or before election da

Voter registration forms are available on-line at the San Diego Registrar of Voters website. Citizens can fill in the registration form on-line, print and sign, and mail to the Registrar of Voters.

Voter registration forms are also available at the City Clerk's Office, U.S. Post Offices, public libraries, and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The San Diego Registrar of Voters is offering a new service for the upcoming election cycle. In addition to the convenience of voting by mail, voters can sign up to receive their sample ballot and voter information pamphlet electronically: